Chapter 72

Tiff unlocked the door to interview room one and placed her folder on the table. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and she wondered again if she could pull this off.

Penn had convinced Olivia's brief to get a late lunch at the canteen while they finalised the paperwork with CPS to charge Olivia with her boyfriend's murder.

On the way back, Penn was bringing Logan to see his mother.

Tiff took a deep breath as the door opened and Olivia was brought into the room. Her eyes widened in panic as she realised what was missing.

‘Where's my brief?' she asked, sitting down.

As instructed, the officer left the door open.

‘It's not that kind of meeting, Olivia. We're not questioning you further. We can't charge you until we have the correct paperwork. We have your confession so there's nothing more for your solicitor to do.'

She visibly relaxed before her face turned pensive again. ‘So why am I back in here?'

‘Logan's been waiting to see you since we brought you in. He's very worried about you.'

Her face paled. ‘I don't want him to see me like this.'

‘He won't mind. He's just concerned. You've told us he takes such good care of you, and he just wants to check that you've not come to any harm. He's not going to think badly of you. He's your son and he loves you, whatever you've done.'

Tiff could see the torment that crossed her face. Olivia didn't know which particular lie she was going to get caught in.

‘Can't he see me once I've been charged, once it's all final?' she said, biting her lip.

‘'Fraid not. Our protocols are much more stringent after that. But right now we can allow him a few minutes to say goodbye; we know how close you are. I'll have to remain present, and the door will be open, but don't worry, you won't even know I'm here.'

‘I don't want to see him,' Olivia cried as panic contorted her face.

Tiff heard the door at the top of the corridor open, and Logan's voice found its way to his mother's ears.

The fear in the room was palpable.

‘Please. I don't want to see him. I'm begging you…'

‘Olivia, trust me,' Tiff whispered, squeezing her fingers across the table before Logan appeared at the door.

He stormed into the room and grabbed his mother's hands. ‘Mom, are you okay?'

Olivia nodded.

‘Logan, you can sit down beside your mom,' Tiff offered. ‘She's fine, but she has something to tell you. We know you've been worried, and we appreciate your patience.' She paused. ‘Because your mom is under arrest, I have to stay here, but we wanted you to hear the truth and say goodbye before we charge her.'

‘Charge her with what?' he cried.

Tiff opened the folder to indicate she was no longer a part of the conversation. She began making notes and flicking through papers that had nothing to do with this case.

Logan gave her one final glance before dismissing her, but she was listening to every word with her head down.

‘Mom, what's going on? I've been out of my mind with worry.'

He certainly sounded like the concerned son.

And there it was. Already Tiff was doubting her own suspicions because of how well Logan presented himself. No wonder Olivia probably felt that no one would believe her.

‘I killed him, Logan,' she said shakily.

‘What are you talking about?'

‘I killed James because he was cheating on me. I followed him to the lake. I waited until the man opposite had gone, and then I pushed him in.'

Tiff didn't bother to look up to gauge Logan's response. His feelings didn't matter. It only mattered what came out of his mouth.

‘Oh, Mom, you haven't told them this, have you?'

‘Yes, Logan. I've confessed to everything. I'm being charged later.'

‘Did they pressure you?'

‘No. I just couldn't live with myself any more. The guilt was eating away at me.'

‘But there must be something we can do to get you back home. Maybe it was the pills. If you were unstable at the time you did it, the judge?—'

‘I wasn't unstable. I knew exactly what I was doing. I thought about it, and I planned it. I'm going to prison for the rest of my life, and I deserve to.'

From the corner of her eye, Tiff saw Logan's head fall into his hands.

He had to accept that his mother had outplayed him. Their life as he knew it was over. He was no longer her captor or her controller, but the big question remained. Would he own up and tell the truth about what had happened to James? Or would he reverse the bus his mother had thrown herself under and in effect get away with murder?

‘Oh, Mom, I don't know what to say. You're not a murderer.'

Tiff held her breath. Was he really going to admit to it, or would he secure his mother's future behind bars?

Logan sighed. ‘He must have really hurt you for you to do something like this. I suppose there was a part of you that must have wanted to get caught.'

Tiff held her breath tighter.

‘I mean, why else would you keep all of his fishing stuff in the garage?'

Euphoria shot through her as Penn rushed into the room. Olivia had claimed to have pushed it all into the lake.

Only the real killer knew where the kit was.

‘Logan Dench, I am arresting you for the murder of James Nixon…'

Tiff tuned out as she reached across the table and squeezed the hand of the bewildered woman.

‘It's okay, Olivia. It's time to take your life back.'